In 2001, the WWF and NBC attempted to go toe-to-toe with the NFL. Despite a debut broadcast with tremendous ratings, the XFL quickly fizzled and folded after just one season. It now appears that wrestling magnate Vince McMahon could be ready to take another shot at professional football.

“Vince McMahon has established and is personally funding a separate entity from WWE, Alpha Entertainment, to explore investment opportunities across the sports and entertainment landscapes, including professional football,” the wrestling organization said in a statement issued to David Bixenspan of Deadspin (Twitter link). “Mr. McMahon has nothing further to announce at this time.”

McMahon’s first try at football wound up costing his company tens of millions of dollars. If there is a second act for McMahon in football, he is making it known that it will not affect the WWE’s bottom line or impact its shareholders.

It’s not immediately clear how serious McMahon is about restarting the XFL or when the league might re-emerge. The WWE filed for two new XFL trademarks this year, according to Bixenspan, though it is common practice for companies to renew their trademarks when they come due.

The first time around, viewers found the on-field quality of the product to be poor and the off-field branding overtly crass. McMahon could try a different spin on marketing his league, but there’s no realistic way to increase the talent level without some type of partnership with the NFL. In the recent ESPN documentary on the failed league, McMahon hinted that a potential reboot “would tie in either with the NFL itself or the owners,” but it’s hard to imagine Roger Goodell & Co. going down that path.

I’m also out. It’s just hard to take anything this guy does as more than acting and over branding. Not that that’s the worst thing, and he’s really damn good at it. But it’s just tough to feel as if there’s any true neutrality or real competition.

Noway I’d watch in Kaep is there.
QBs I’d wanna c in the XFL
Manzel, Kaep, RG3, Vince Young, Ryan Leaf, The fat guy Oakland took #1 overall, Speaking of fat guys the guy who played for U.K. And the Giants that was like 350lbs. He can play QB as well. Do something crazy like that and I’m in. Probably not for every game, but I’ll watch when those guys play each other. (Jamarcus Russell) just came to me. Heavy weight QB dual when Russell and the old U.K./Giants QB takes the field as opponents. (Jared Lorenzen) just came to me again.

What about XFL doing a BIG3 kinda thing. 7on7 old QBs slinging it without getting hit. Put the WRs and DBs in pads still. Farve, Manning, Marino, Aikman, etc throwing the pill around like the old days. With Marvin Harrison, Donald Driver, Duper and Clayton, And Michael Irving. Covered by Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, Bob Sanders, etc. that I would pay to c. Not sure which idea is better honestly